WHO and World Bank organised South-East Asia UHC training on measuring financial protection highlighted varied forgone healthcare among older populations, and urged consistent measurement and data access.
In a recent training on measuring financial protection for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the South-East Asia Region, Dr. Megumi Rosenberg and Dr. Nawi Ng presented findings from their research on unmet healthcare needs among older populations. The training, organised by WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Office, WHO Headquarters, and the World Bank Group, aimed to build the capacity of national statistical officers analysing SDG indicators on financial protection, with policymakers discussing the implications of the data findings.
Dr. Rosenberg highlighted the lack of data on unmet healthcare needs globally but emphasised the value of national surveys, revealing prevalence ranging from 1.9% in Thailand to 44% in Bangladesh and India for adults aged 60 and older, reaching as high as 55% among women aged 60-69 in Bangladesh. The WHO Centre for Health Development is actively addressing this issue through research, capacity building, and collaboration with global initiatives.
